Technology proposed to thwart rising mall crimes

JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – EXPERTS have proposed network video technology to enhance the security of mall store customers and staff as crime peaks ahead of the festive season.
These crimes have been reported around South African malls in such regions as Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Western Cape.
Axis Communications said video surveillance technology could assist in deterring crime and capturing footage of incidents such as shoplifting, robberies and cashier fraud as well as to enhance parking lot safety and car washes.
“Whether you own a fashion boutique or retail outlet, surveillance technology will make it easier for you to manage merchandising and operations by amongst other, allowing you to monitor flow and conversion rates, fine-tune endcaps and encourage impulse purchases,” the company stated.
“These systems also enable you to spot empty shelves and anticipate the spaces that sales staff need to tend to during peak checkout times.”
By making use of either local video management software or a cloud-based solution, companies can easily monitor every part of their store and even view multiple premises from a single location.
Network video’s superior image quality provides remarkable details for faster, better decisions, greater protection of people and property, and reduced investigation times.
Video surveillance technology also have business benefits beyond security including the ability to generate heat maps, which enable you to identify store hot spots, dead areas and bottlenecks.
Ultimately, Axis Communications said, the protection of people, both customers and employees, is an essential part of every retail business, factoring in the long operating hours and large amounts of cash being dealt with at stores located in shopping malls.
“Network video offers managers so much more than traditional analogue surveillance systems and will allow managers to gain benefits beyond security to enhance merchandising and operations.”
– CAJ News